• Boxing

Mayweather open to Khan showdown at Wembley

ESPN staff
July 23, 2011

Floyd Mayweather Jnr. has opened the door for a future clash with Amir Khan by revealing he desperately wants to fight at Wembley.

Khan is set to fight Zab Judah in Las Vegas on Saturday, and both men hit the 140lb limit at the weigh-ins ahead of their light-welterweight encounter. Mayweather, who has beaten Judah in the past, believes the Brit has a tough night ahead of him.

"I've been in with Zab Judah," said Mayweather. "Both are explosive fighters. It's a good fight to watch and won't be easy for either man. Experience plays a major part in a fight of this magnitude. Zab has been in there with damn near everybody. I don't know who will win."

Should Khan emerge victorious, he has made it clear that he will come looking for Mayweather in 2012. It is a challenge the American is open to, although he maintained his stance that any opponent of his must be put through stringent drug tests.

"All I'll say is that if you're facing Floyd Mayweather, you have to take the test," he confirmed, before allowing himself to briefly dream of a big night in England.

"To still be at the top of boxing after dominating the sport for 15 or 16 years, I'm truly blessed. I'd love to go over and put on a great show and a great fight for my No. 1 fans. When I went over there 5,000 fans watched me train. It was truly marvellous. I'd like to fight at Wembley, so I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best."

The issue of a pound-for-pound shootout with Manny Pacquiao stills irritates Mayweather, who continues to insist that the southpaw undergoes drug tests if they are to collide. If boot was on the other foot, Mayweather is adamant the media would turn on him if he rejected a similar request, and he complained that Pacquiao always gets preferential treatment.

"Why aren't I the best when nobody's defeated me yet?" questioned Mayweather. "You've got this guy that everyone's saying is the best, but he's already been beaten. They say I'm too big for Juan Manuel Marquez, but I'm not too big for Pacquiao, yet Pacquiao and Marquez are the same size. That's something I don't understand.

"I can retire without fighting Manny Pacquiao. Floyd Mayweather is not in boxing for Manny Pacquiao, he's in this sport to continue giving his fans pleasing performances."

Meanwhile, Khan promised not to run in his bout with Judah, who is known for his knockout power. The 33-year-old has stopped 28 opponents by KO, but Khan will not take a backward step on Saturday.

"The guys I'm fighting are tough and are big names. I'm not one to run and make a fight look bad," said Khan. "I still get involved if I can. I like a tear-up when people think I might take it easy.

"My trainer Freddie Roach has got me to calm down just a little bit because I get a little bit impatient waiting. I jump in and that's when you make mistakes. Sometimes it's risky the way I fight, but that's what makes me special. People want to watch me because they know I take risks."

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